Hand sanding tool

Abstract

A hand sanding tool that has a strip of material secured to a frame and spanning across an open gap of the frame. The strip of material has an abrasive surface for sanding objects and a spring force applies tension to the strip. The spring force maybe a resiliently flexible frame or a separate spring element anchoring the strip to the frame. Quick connect-quick release connectors connect the strip to the frame.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hand sanding tool comprising a frame having a free open gap in a selected portion thereof, a flat strip of material having a face with an abrasive surface for use in sanding objects, means anchoring said strip of material to said frame at first and second positions spaced apart longitudinally along the strip and disposed respectively on opposite sides of said open gap and means resiliently applying tension to the strip extending between said strip anchoring means at said first and second positions.  
     
     
         2 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein said strip anchoring means is detachably connected to said frame.  
     
     
         3 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein said frame is a bow type frame having a toe portion, a heel portion and a central portion interconnecting said heel and toe portions and wherein said central portion is resiliently flexible thereby providing said means tensioning said strip.  
     
     
         4 . A hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein said strip anchoring means located at least one of said first and second positions comprises a clasp mounted on said frame and including means releasably retaining said clasp locked in a closed strip engaging position.  
     
     
         5 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein said strip anchoring means located at at least one of said first and second positions comprises a wedge and a rod mounted on said frame and together providing a gap through which a portion of said strip passes.  
     
     
         6 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 5  wherein said wedge is reciprocally movable along a selected length portion of said frame.  
     
     
         7 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 6  including means retaining said wedge captive and limiting reciprocal movement of the same.  
     
     
         8 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 7  wherein said retaining means comprises an enlargement located on an apex portion of the wedge.  
     
     
         9 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 5  wherein said wedge is fixed to said frame and wherein said rod comprises a portion of a member that circumscribes a portion of the wedge and the portion of the frame associated therewith.  
     
     
         10 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein said frame is generally C-shaped.  
     
     
         11 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 1  including means adjustably to vary the tension of said strip spanning between said first and second positions.  
     
     
         12 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein said strip anchoring means located at least one of said first and second positions comprises a plate having a spaced apart pair of parallel slots therein and through which a portion of the strip is threaded and means attaching said plate to said frame.  
     
     
         13 . The hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 12  wherein said means attaching said plate to said frame comprises a ring.  
     
     
         14 . A hand sanding tool as defined in  claim 3  wherein said frame has a reversely bent portion that extends rearwardly in a direction from said toe portion toward said heel portion of the frame, said rearwardly extending portion having an outer face and wherein a selected length portion of said strip abuts against said outer face.  
     
     
         15 . A hand sanding tool comprising a bow type frame proving an open gap, a strip of material having an abrasive surface for sanding and means attaching said strip to said frame at respective first and second positions spaced apart from one another longitudinally along said strip with said strip having a free unsupported span extending across said open gap, said attaching means comprising a plate located at each of said first and second positions and having a pair of parallel spaced apart slots through which the strip is threaded, means connecting the plates to the frame and which includes means to adjustably vary the tension of said free span of the strip.